transport canada rpas flight review training

Transport Canada RPAS Flight Review Course

RPAS Operations Flight Review Training Course

We offer an operations specific flight review training course that will allow you to undertake the Transport Canada flight review with confidence. The flight review training course covers the principle areas required such as:

Pre-flight planning procedures

Emergency procedures

Take-off procedures

Manual flight control procedures

Lost link procedures

Fly-away procedures

Landing procedures

The flight review training focuses on the core elements required by Transport Canada but also provides operational risk mitigation strategies and techniques you will actually use in the field. Yes, we want you to pass the flight review that we will provide but we will also prepare you for real-world drone operations based on hundreds of hours of drone ops experience in advanced operational environments.

The new RPAS regulations requires pilots of remotely piloted aircraft systems (RPAS) to undertake both a written exam AND a flight review in order to conduct advanced operations.

If you are conducting drone operations in and around populated areas you are or will be conducting advanced operations.

RPAS Flight Review Course Content

Drone or RPAS operations planning is not complicated but it, like other aviation environments requests a systematic approach. We will walk you through the basics of operational planning from A-Z showing you practically how details matter to the success of your flight missions. Your training will include an overview of:

Loss of Positive Control (fly-aways, C2 Failure, Loss of VLOS)

Accident Reporting & Notification

Maintenance & Inspection (lost link testing)

Documentation & Record Keeping

Transport Canada RPAS Flight Review Requirements

The emphasis of preflight procedures with respect to the flight review is on planning and risk mitigation. Operations that are planned well in advance leave little to chance. Importantly UAV operations that are planned well reduce the stress factors on the operation leaving headroom for emergency and unplanned occurrences. A team that is completely taxed conducting operations is very much more likely to make poor decisions and suffer poor outcomes if additional stress is added to the operational environment.

Provide a satisfactory site survey;

Brief flight crew or visual observers of any duties they are to perform or any other information relevant to the flight;

Use appropriate and current aeronautical charts and other current flight publications;

Properly identify airspace, obstructions, and terrain features;

Select a safe and efficient take-off location and flight route;

Obtain all pertinent information about local air routes and aerodromes;

Retrieve and interpret weather information and NOTAM relevant to the intended flight;

Determine the acceptability of existing or forecast weather conditions;

Select the most favourable and appropriate altitudes, considering weather conditions and equipment limitations;

Determine the appropriate departure procedure;

Make a competent “GO/NO-GO” decision based on available information for the flight;

Demonstrate that the weights and center of gravity are within acceptable manufactures limits;

Determine the impact on their sRPAS operations, of unserviceability of equipment or equipment configuration changes for the proposed flight; and

Organize and arrange material and equipment in a manner that makes the items readily available.

Emergency procedures are integral to conducting responsible RPAS operations. The flight review training will outline various types of emergency situations that may arise and demonstrate how proper planning can improve the effectiveness of a response.

Identify and record the direction and altitude the sRPAS was last seen traveling

Estimate the approximate available flight time that will remain and the fly away boundary in kms given the available fuel/power on board.

Initiating flights requires a great deal of situational awareness. Very few advanced operational environments can be considered static therefore it’s important to understand that things will be changing and how to take the appropriate RPAS flight planning steps to minimize the impact of the potential change on this critical phase of the operation. It’s very much true that the operations become easier once the UAV is in the air away from unpredictable influences. People, machines, animals, or even children (depending on your shoot location), have an uncanny knack for interference. Strictly speaking, Transport Canada requires as a minimum:

Complete all pre-flight inspection/checks on your sRPAS;

Complete the appropriate checklists

Note take-off time;

Use an organized and efficient procedure to take off;

Comply with all departure clearances and instructions if the flight review is conducted in controlled airspace; and

Complete appropriate checklists.

We will also outline:

setting up principle and alternate launch/recovery areas

establishing cordoned

how to manage public interference.

visual observer duties with respect to interference

roles and responsibilities (client vs you)

Getting the job done! You are in the air now what? Smooth slow movements are nearly ALWAYS the best approach to the successful completion of any UAV flight mission. In EVERY instance the introduction of speed introduces more risk to the flight operation without question. Understanding your limitations as a pilot and even practicing the required mission in a low-risk environment will pay dividends.

confirm current fuel/power levels vs requirements for the flight

With a little practice/instruction you will be able to easily complete the all there requirements and we will show you a way to verify the position of the RPAS in any situation.

Landings, like take-offs, are a bit about timing. It’s crucially important that RPAS pilots do not wait until the power/fuel level is critically low prior to attempting a landing. For example you may have to wait for your principal area to become clear of hazards or you may need to shift to your alternate landing area in order to get your RPAS down safely and you will need time to do so.

Use an organized and efficient procedure to land;

Comply with all arrival clearances and instructions if the flight review is conducted in controlled airspace;

Please Setup a Meeting!

Please get in touch to pre-book your flight review training course for this spring in advance of the regulations coming in to force June 01! We expect this course to fill up quickly and there are limited dates.